Singer hopes her voice will take her far

At the last pep assembly, senior Anabelem Escobar sang the national anthem. She hopes that performance is just the beginning of her career.

She is involved in McNary’s newest program Contemporary Music Program (CMP), a program that is pushing students into more professional positions as musical performers.

Anabelem’s musical career began when she performed with with her church’s choir at a young age. As she grew older, she got involved in elementary, middle school, and eventually high school choir before breaking off from group performance to pursue solo voice.

“I much prefer solo voice,” she said. “When I got the chance I immediately hopped over to studio productions.”

Anabelem, now in studio productions, has continued to pursue a solo voice styled career. Performing has now become her favorite thing she said “I love performing, its exhilarating and exciting.”

Her latest performance, at the McNary pep assembly on October 28 was in front of the entirety of McNary as she performed the national anthem that earned a standing ovation and much applause from the student body and staff.

“It was a little terrifying preparing because it was such a serious piece,” Anabelem said.

“At first, being in front of all of the school was nerve-wrecking,” she said. “But after starting all the worrying disappeared.”

Earlier at the Xperience Music Festival, Anabelem preformed “Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin for the solo voice section of the festival, winning a Willamette scholarship. “I was ecstatic and really surprised,” Anabelem said. “I had know idea I was going to win.”

She even had to be Face-Timed to receive the scholarship because she had to leave the festival early.

Now with a scholarship under her belt, Anabelem continues to prepare herself for her musical career with the help of the CMP program.

Noha Escobar is Anabelem’s sister, a sophomore who is proud of her sisters achievement. “She is a talented singer and I am really proud of her” Noha concluded.

Anabelem is destined for greatness said her sister and her CMP peers. “She is amazing.”‘